Morning journal and courier., 1887-11-21
A 100000 FIRE.

From the Flames-ROamfng About
the Country-The People Intensely
ExcIted-A Sfckening Spectacle
Large Portion or the Menager1e AMI
mails Burned to Death - All the
Trained Horses Burned-A Terrible
Scene-One of the Watchmem Missing
| An Elephant Knocks Down Man
and Terribly Injuries Him-Brtdse-
port Policemen Fighting Lions in
the Stree1s-PeoPIe Tossed About by
Infatuated Elephants.
BosToN, Nov. 20.-A Globe special from
Bridgeport says the main building of Barnum
G Bailey's greatest show on earth was en-
tirely destroyed by fire this evening. About
1870 O'Clock alarm was sounded, quickly
followed by a general alarm, and thousands
of people were drawn to the spot. In less
than thirty minutes the big building, which
| was 600x200 feet and two stories in height,
was entirely consumed. The first intimation
of the fire was given by the roaring of the
lions and tigers, which seemed TO realize the
| impending danger. Next the elephants
struggled in their chains, but in an incredibly
short time the flames swept from one end of
| the huge structure to the other. There
were six watchmen employed on the prem
Uses, but they were powerless to check the
i
| when the lantern exploded, igniting the hay
| and straw. Five of the watchmen have re-
| ported, but one is missing. The upper por-
ton of the building was filled with hay and
all the paraphernalia of the great show. Be-
| fore the first alarm ceased sounding the
whole building was enveloped in fire and no
one dared to approach the building, being
fearful of the crazed animals. Three e1e-
| plants were burned up and thirty-six broke
| from their fastenings and dashed through
| the sides of the burning building Their
/ roars and trumpetings and sounds of tor
| ment were terrific. Six elephants and large
| African hippopotamus were about the streets
presenting sickening appearance. Their
| sides were burned and great pieces of flesh
| foot square fell off. Thirty elephants and
one large lion made their escape and
started off across country toward Fairfield and
| Easton. Great alarm has seized a
great many residents of the west end and
| they have taken refuge within their houses
with windows barred. William Newman,
the elephant trainer, is out of town and the
| keepers were not able in the excitement to
herd the frightened animals. In the horse
room were all the ring animals, trained stall
lions, ponies, etc. These were all burned
In the upper rooms were the tents poles
seats, harnesses, etc., for the entire show and
these, too, were all destroyed. In the other
cat room were the birds, monkeys, three
rhinoceroses, hyenas, tigers, lions and all the
menagerie, which fell a prey to the flames.
So rapidly did the flames leap across the
main building that-the fremen made no at
tempt to it, but turned their streams
upon the chariot buildings and car sheds,
which they succeeded in saving, but the
heat was so intense that this was
accomplished with the greatest difficulty.
The total loss is estimated at 100000, upon
which there was but 100000 insurance Be-
lore the building went down Barnum's
agents were busy making arrangements for
obtaining q new lot OF att1 actions to supply
the loss. Mr.. Brothwell, Barnums Bridge
port agent, states that the show building
would be rebuilt, but not in Bridgeport.
The great show would probably go to Jersey
City where better railroad facilities weuld
be had. Mr.. Barnum is at Murray Hill,
New York, and Mr.. Bailey at his place,
Twenty Fourth street and Nicholas Place,
them by telegraph.
Especial to the JOURNAL AND COURIER
BRIDGEPORT, Nov. 20.-A fire broke out in
the winter quarters of Barnum's show in the
outskirts of the city this Sunday evening.
The flames were seen at 1890. They spread
with great rapidity, the buildings being of
wood and the fire famed by the wind The
buildings are close to the tracks of the Con-
solidated railroad between Bridgeport and
Black Rock, just below the malleable iron
works. The watchmen were powerless to
stay the spread of the flames and pandemo-
mum seemed let loose with the frantic roar
ing and believing of the lions, tigers
and elephants. All efforts were con-
centrated to save the most valuable
animals. Crowds of people soon swarmed to
the scene, general fire alarm having sound
ed and it being noised aloud that Barnum's
shows winter quarters were on fire. The
flames lit up grandly, Illuminating the local
ity brightly and being seen from afar. CThe
flames were plainly visible from New Haven
at II o'clock.) Despite all efforts three fine
elephants were burned, but the other twenty
eight of the herd of elephants were saved.
Also several lions and tigers were burned to
death and many of the other animals, small
and large, shared a like fate. There
were three large buildings, the
horse building (where the fire originated), the
storage building and the elephants quarters.
These were all destroyed together with sever
al of the large and smaller sheds. Numbers
of the animals escaped and took to the
A.
of the city in dazed state. The people are
wild with excitement, as it is reported that
tigers, hyenas, jackals and elephants are
loose. The watchmen had been over the
premises just before the fire broke out and
saw nothing amiss. The or igin of the fire
is mystery. The loss is estimated at $780,
900. The insurance was $145,0 200. A man
named Smith in assisting to rescue the ele- |
plants was knocked down and stepped on by |
one of the beasts and had his leg and three
ribs smashed. ,y.- |
The excitement about town is unparalleled |
in Bridgeport history. A large number, in
GLIDING three elephants, Samson, Jim and |
Burt, persisted. Hundreds of animals, in |
Guiding elephants, lions, tigers, leopards, |
cemels and horses were liberated or else broke |
loose and for hours afterward there was
tremendous uproar. Several persons were
picked up in the streets by the Infatuated |
elephants and tossed all around. A detail of /
police pursued roaring lion and put six or
seven bullets into his hide, but with no per-
ceptible result At midnight the fire is I'M
der control, but is still burning.
ASTRAY In THE WOODS.
A Lunatic Jumps From Train ana
Plunges Into a BoundIess Forest.
SOUTH MAHoN1NG, Pa, Nov. 20.-A year
or SO ago John and Duff Morrow of this
place went to Colorado and engaged in the
cattle business. Last month horse on |